Isaiah Bell, LB or Safety?

Everywhere you look, you'll see Isaiah Bell projected as a linebacker. The question I have is, "Why?"

Is it because he can't cover?

Well... no, he covered extremely well at the Under Armour AA game.

Bad top end speed then?

Yeah, unless you watch him returning interceptions and kicks for touchdowns.

So why a linebacker? Because he's big enough to be a linebacker? So is Taylor Mays, and he rules the secondary. Is there some rule against having a big safety? I really don't get it. It's not like safety is a position we have much depth at.

BTW, he said in his interview with Sam Webb on signing day that he would be playing "nickelback" "real close to the line of scrimmage." Sounds good to me.

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I've said all along that I think Bell will and should be a safety in college. The only reason I think people think he'll be a linebacker is because of his size, which, like you pointed out, shouldn't be the biggest factor. In my opinion, his ball skills and ability to cover make him an ideal safety. Obviously, if he gets too big and it affects his mobility, then he could kick down to OLB. But if he's able to maintain his speed and agility as his body matures, then why not keep him at safety?

no rover, never ever ever. The kid can play ball, he needs to be on the feild. I would love a taylor mayes at michigan, but then who wouldnt. Not saying he could be mayes but his youtube highlights were pretty damn impressive.

First of all, Taylor Mays may have played LB at a lot of schools, but when the linebackers of your team are Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews, you figure out how to get Taylor Mays on the field. Although we don't have crazy safety depth, we have some, and more coming in this class. We don't have much depth at all at OLB.

Also, linebackers, IMO, play a much bigger role on the defense than a safety. If you have a guy who can play LB well, you want him involved in as many plays as you can.

Considering that Bell has never played linebacker in his life, I'm going to assume that he'd be good at safety earlier than he would be good at linebacker. And since we need more immediate help at safety this year (at least one spot is open and Brown is graduating), then I think that's the more important place for him now.

With our safety play in recent years, if he could be an equally good safety or linebacker, I'd take the good safety in a heartbeat.